Fuel system for internal-combustion engines



A il 19 W2? Y pr c. F. WEEBER FUEL SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES Filed Aug. 5, 1920 j/ I Q I/VVE/VTOR l ,1 M

( ATTURNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FUEL SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTIOTN ENGINES.

Application filed August 3, 1920. Serial No. 400,905.

My invention relates to a fuel system for internal combustion engines,and has, among other objects, that of finely atomizing the liquid fueland by other means than that of the air current which supplies the airfor lhe explosive mixture; and thereby overcoming the defect oftenoccurring of a wet mixture due to insufliciently atomized particles ofthe liquid fuel carried along by the swiftly moving air current into theengine cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to substantially vaporize the liquidfuel, and preferably before the admixture thereto of the main body ofair, to form an explosive mixture.

A further object is to employ the exhaustgases of the engine as theatomizing, and, by reason of their heat, as the vaporizing medium.

- My invention consists. in an apparatus for accomplishing these andother objects, which will be apparent from the following description andfrom the accompanying drawings of one illustrative en'ibodin'ient of myappara'l'us,-in which The single figure is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the valved inletand outlet passages, and the inlet manifold thereto, and showing theexhaust conduit in elevation, and the devices of my fuel system,associated therewith, partlyin vertical sec tion and partly inelevation.

The internal combustion engine with which my fuel system is employed maybe of any type in which an atomized or vaporized liquid fuel, mixed withair forms the charge. In the illustrative embodiment l have shown afour-cycle engine having a cylinder 1, pro vided with a clearance space2 to which the explosive charge is admitted upon the suction stroke bythe spring-seated and suctionoperated inlet valve 3, and from which theexhaust gases are ejected through the springseated exhaust valve l,operated mechanically in its opening movement in the usual or anydesired manner, a conventional showing of cam 5 and cam-rod 6 being heredeemed sufficiently illustrative since my inveution does not reside inthese features.

Au. exhaust conduit 7 leads from the exhaust valve chamber 8, and an airinlet conduit 9 leads to the charge inlet valve chamber 10, which airinlet conduit is controlled by a throttle valve 1.1.

The mechanical devices of my improved fuel system include fuel feedingmeans and atomizing and vaporizing means for trans forming the liquidfuel into a vapor before admixture therewith of air. Such means includethe float chamber 12 with the float 13 therein upon the needle valve 14controlling the entrance of the liquid fuel from the fuel inlet conduit15, all designed to maintain a predetermined level of the liquid fuel inthe float chamber. A fuel delivery conduit 16, shown in the illustrativeembodiment as in the casting of the float chamber, is controlled at willby a needle valve 17.

The atomizing and vaporizing means include, in theillusrativeembodiment, a right angled chamber formed of two hollow castings 18 and19 united by means of their flanges 20 and 21 and the bolts and nuts 22.In the lower meeting faces of the flanges 20 and 21, semi-circulargrooves are formed to provide a vertically extending bore for theinsertion of the upwardly extending arm of the liquid fuel pipe 24, thehorizontal arm of this pipe being connected through the nippic 25 to theoutlet from the conduit 16.

The upwardly extending arm of the liquid fuel pipe 24 terminates in anozzle 24 substantially at the center of the atomizing and vaporizingchamber.

At one end of the horizontal portion of the atomizing and vaporizingchamber, the left-hand end as viewed in the drawings, a hollow boss 26is formed having an aperture for the insertion of the pipe 27 leadingfrom the exhaust conduit 7, the pipe 27 terminating in a nozzle 28directly in line with but transversely disposed to the fuel nozzle Thepipe 27 is of small cross-seclional area and capacity as compared withthe exhaust conduit 7, and is thus designed for the entraining from theexhaustconduit of a con'iparatively small quantity of the unspentexhaust gases in a stream moving at high velocity.

Between the exhaust delivery nozzle 2t and. the fuel nozzle 24; is agauging dish 29, its periphery tightly fitting the interior wall of thechamber 18, and havinga central aperture 30, the center of whichaperture in line with the exhaust nozzle 28 and the fuel nozzle 24:.This aperture is designed in size to gauge the quantity of exhaust gasesto be passed therethrough and across the fuel nozzle 2%, and a pluralityof disks having varying sizes of apertures may be provided for separateinsertion and use in" the chamber 18 it variation in the quantity ofexhaust gases for atomization and vaporization is demanded.

The vertically depending portion of the hollow casting l8" spro'yldedwith zfitlap valve 31 norn'ially maintained in closed position by acurved spring'ilfi so that 'a roup is provided for the reception bygravityot' the non tluid particles in the exhaust stream emergin tro'mthe nozzle 28, the impingement oi? the exhaust streaineinerging from thenozzle v ta -ilita tingthe separation or these par-titles theret'ioin.'lhe'particlcs tlius'separated and deiivered into the sump can beremoved by;

by the screw-threaded nipple and nut 36,

as shown.

The pipes and 34 are of like cross-sectional area and preferablyslightly larger than the liquid fuel pipe 24 or the exhaust deliverypipe 27, but of small capacityas compared with-the air inlet conduit 9and' the atoinizing and vaporizing chamber.

The pipe 34: preferably extends the entire length of the upwardlyextending portion of the air inlet condu'itand into the charge inletchamber 10, there terminating: in a nozzle 37.

Rearwardly of the nozzle 37, and for convenience with its peripheralportion held be tween the flanges 38 by which the air inlet conduitis'secured to" the inlet valve chamher, is a'disk 39liaving a centralaperture 40 through which the" pipe 34 extends; such disktunctioningto'reduce the area of the air passage.

Afthrottle valve 4L1 is provided in the aiomizing and vaporizing chamberbetween the liquid lucl nozzle and theinlet to pipe fii-has shown.

t is to beunderstood that when anengine having multiple cylindersis'used, the air inlet conduit 9 and the exhaust conduit 7 are in theform each of a manifold having branches to the respective cylinders andthe single pipe 33 from theatomizing and vaporizing chamber issecure'dto separate pipes, functioningas does the pipe 34, andextending; througlrthe branches of the air inlet manifold tothe'respecti've cylinders.

For the starting and initial operation of the engine, a carburetor ofthecustomary type, connected to the airinlet conduit 9. may be used itdesirechand after the engine is in operation, the liquid fuel supply tothat against the 'paug'ing disk at) chamber opposite to that in exhaustdelivery pipe 2'? 18 in-' right-hand end as viewed 111' the thus'passingthrough the aperture 30 passes transversely over the liquid fuel nozzle"24L and entrains therefrom" and 'atomizesthe liquid fuel, thecoinii-iing led exhaust gases 'andfinely divided particles of liquidfuel then. travcrsingtlie chamber 19 and the pipes"33 and 34, duringwhichtraverse the finely divided particles of liquid fuel be comecompletely vaporized bythe' heat of the exhaust gases.

The proportions of the vaporized fuel and ot the ai'r to' form theexplosive mixture may be varied by means of the throttle valves 41. and11 'contr'olling, respectively,' the quantities of fuel deliveredthrough the pipes 33 and 34 and or the air delivered through the airinlet conduit 9.

The reducing disk 39 causes a concentra- 'ti'on'ot the air streamadjacent the vapor nozzles? and hence a better commingling ot theseingredients; and the location'ot the vaporoutlet nozzle 37 on the engineside of 'the disk 39 and hence on the side of the greatestiedu'ction inpressure assists in the more speetly'delivery of the fuel through thecomparatively small pipe 34-. v

In prac'ticeI have obtained satisfactory results in theatoni'ization andvaporization 0t the fuel and in the ultimate explosive mixture produced,bygauging the stream of exhaust gases usedinatomizing the'li'quid fuelto the smallest quantity sufficient to atom'ize andsubsequently vaporizethe "Fuel.

This gauging I pretera'bly' accomplish by the gauging disk as shown. butmy invention contemplates 'the accomplishment of this gauging by'Other'means, including the se lec iOiYOf "the pipe 27 itself of thepredetermined cross-sectional"areax As already stated, however, the sizeofthe aperture may be'vaii'ed somewhat; and it is to be'unde'rstood thatmy 'inventionisnot limited to the precise gauging device or'size oi?aperture stated. I

p I have" also found" that the provision of 1 'mea'ns for'rem'oving'ifrom the exhaust before commingling' with the liquidtue'lthe non-fluid particles carried along; with them,

' tends further to obviate the difficulties heretoforeencountered,particularly the deposit of carbon within the enginecylinder.

Many modifications of my invention will be apparent to those skilled inthis art'without departing therefrom or from the scope of the claims, myinvention not being limited to the particular embodiment chosen toillustrate the same.

Having particularly described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fuel system for internal combustion engines, in combination withthe engine, a supply of liquid fuel and a fuel nozzle, means forentraining from the ex haust conduit of the engine a stream of exhaustgases, means for gauging said stream to a reduction suiiicient toatomize said liquid fuel, and for directing said gauged stream intoatomizing relation with the fuel nozzle, an enclosure open to theresulting mixture of exhaust ases and atomized liquid fuel and adaptedto maintain without admixture of air the ingredients of said mixture inintimatecontact to vaporize said atomized liquid fuel, a throttle insaid enclosure, means for delivering said vaporized fuel from saidenclosure and for adding air thereto to form an explosive mixture, andmeans for delivering said explosive mixture to the engine cylinder.

2. In a fuel system for internal combustion engines, in combination withan engine, a chaml'ier con'in'lunicating with the engine cylinder, arestricted liquid fuel nozzle extending into said chamber, a nozzle forthe ection of a fluid medium disposed in atomizing relation to saidliquid fuel nozzle, a sump to catch non-fluid particles in said medium,and a conduit connecting said second mentioned nozzle with the exhaustconduit of the engine, and a throttle in said chamber.

3. In a fuel system for internal combustion engines, in combination withan engine having a charge inlet port and an exhaust port, an air supplyconduit communicating with said charge inlet port, a reduction elementin said air supply conduit adjacent said comi'i'iunication with saidcharge inlet port reducing the area of said communication, a secondconduit connnunicating with said air supply conduit and with the haustconduit of said engine, and a liquid fuel nozzle extending into saidsecond conduit intermediate said communications.

4-, In a fuel system for internal combustion engines, in combinationwith an engine having a charge inlet port and an exhaust port, an airsupply conduit communicating with said charge inlet port, a reductionelement in said air supply conduit adjacent said communication with saidcharge inlet port reducing the area of said communication, a secondconduit communicating with said air supply conduit on the engine side ofsaid reduction element and with the exhaust conduit of said engine, anda liquid fuel nozzle extending into said second conduit intermediatesaid communications.

5. In a fuel system for internal combustion engines, in combination withan engine, a chamber communicating with the engine cylinder, a liquidfuel nozzle extending into said chamber, a nozzle for the ejection of afluid medium disposed in atomizing relation to said liquid fuel nozzle,a conduit connecting said second mentioned nozzle with the exhaustconduit of the engine, and

means interposed between said nozzles for gauging the stream of exhaustgases issuing from said second mentioned nozzle to a re duction.

6. In a fuel system for internal combustion engines, in combination withan engine, a supply of liquid fuel, means for entraining from theunspent exhaust gases emitted from the engine a stream of such gases,means for separating non-fluid particles from said stream, means forthereafter directing said stream into atomizing relation with the liquidfuel to atomize the same, and means for delivering said fuel after saidatomization to the engine cylinder.

7 In a fuel system for internal combustion engines, in combination withan engine, a chamber communicating with the engine cylinder, a liquidfuel nozzle extending into said chamber, a nozzle for the ejection of afluid medium disposed in atomizing relation to said liquid fuel nozzle,a conduit connecting said second mentioned nozzle with the exhaustconduit of the engine, an apertured wall disposed between said nozzleswith the aperture in alignment with said second mentioned nozzle, and asump disposed at the side of said wall opposite said liquid fuel nozzle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoin I have hereunto set my hand this26 day of July, 1920.

CHRISTIAN F. WEEBER.

